Ｈｏｕｓｅ Ｏｆ Ａｌｔｅｒａ || 【ᴀᴏʙᴀ ᴥ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ】

X. Madness

When I thought I had regained consciousness, my grip on my condition was limp. I could only breath softly, in this little black space. Coiled around my arms were gargoyle serpents, humming a work tune as they captivated me. In this room, I felt nothing. My feelings were in fragments, and I could make out the soft sound of voices. Of my friends? No, they were my friends, but yet not. The sounds of their voices were corrupted, and that's when I finally departed to another scene. Gasping for air, I gripped the sides of the fabric that encased me and shot into a sitting position. I immediately caught the attention of the bystanders at my side, Koujaku, Noiz. I made out their faces, but something was off. I couldn't make out their voices, only low pitched static. Was I still dreaming? The looks in their eyes were hollow, as if being controlled. I reached my hand out weakly to grip Koujaku's kimono, as my fingers grazed against the fabric. He faded into crisp ashes, and they fluttered to the floor, sending dark splotches across the sun-stained boards. I shot my gaze up to Noiz, who held a grim smile while saying something in static. Before he reached for me, and shattered. A single lamb stood where they once had been, and it began to walk away, a sad limp in its step, in the dim dream I had dreamt, before it left completely it spoke in a frail familiar voice.
" Ovis ad occisionem ducetur."
When I had fully woken up, I met the cold rush of the House's energy. I was finally awake. Alone in this room, where the silky crimson drapes were tattered to almost nothing. Looking around, I realized that this was not my room. Fumbling to the nightstand, I picked up a small picture frame placed gently into a corner. Dusting the thick layer of dust from it's surface, I observed it. It was a picture of a middle aged man and woman, with silky light grey hair, a small albino-haired child stood in the middle and smiled widely, the mother's hand nestled in his hair. Behind them towered the House of Altera and I breathed softly. This must have been Clear's parents bedchamber, but I realized something. This photo, had not been vandalized. Of all of the other pictures I had viewed, the children's faces were always removed. But this photo was completely intact, not a single flaw other than the growing yellow lining around the white outline. Hearing a knock at the door, I lowered the picture frame a bit to see who had knocked. The door was pushed ajar, and I looked up to see Clear, tray in hand with the lightest smile against his features. He settled down in a chair scooted beside the bed, and sat the tray onto his lap.
"How are you feeling, Aoba-san?" He stirred up the contents in the steaming bowl, and asked brightly.
"I'm feeling a bit better.." I tilted my head to the angle so I could see the sun completely dipped beneath the clouds, "How long was I out?" He lifted the spoon, and blew softly against the mush. "Just a few hours. Since this was closest room, I decided it would be best to let Aoba-san rest." He pushed it slowly to my lips, and I hesitantly took it into my mouth and chewed. It wasn't bitter, but a mildly entrancing taste. I could only make out the sweet lathering taste of potatoes and a few herbal spices. Clear's cooking.. I visioned the dream from before, and curiously asked before he delivered another bite of the brew.
"Where are Noiz and Koujaku?" Clear paused mid-way, and gave a thoughtful expression. Tipping his head, he allowed me to take a bite before speaking. It was embarrassing, being fed like this, but my energy felt raw and worn.
"They seemed to have left before you lost consciousness, I tried to search for them. But they had gone." Even Clear looked troubled, and he scooped another bite for me in exchange. He brushed his fingers against my lap, and found the picture frame. Taking it into his hands with consideration, he smiled sadly.
"Had you been curious, Aoba-san?"
"Ah-h, yeah. I'm sorry."
"You needn't to apologize."
"But--"
"It is alright."
Unfolding it's support, he sat it back onto the nightstand with great delicacy. Before redirecting his attention back to me, and resumed giving me wholesome bites. When the bowl was emptied, he sat it aside, brushing his fingers against the wallpaper. Fragments of it peeled off into his hand, and he let it slowly flutter to the floor. Placing my fingers against the cold damp window, I traced the outline of the willow tree's shadow with my finger. Clear moved over near me, and watched me waste time curiously. Resting his head in his arms, he closed his eyes and exhaled softly, as if he was sleeping. Scooting over cautiously, I rested my head against his shoulder, and he smiled between breaths.
"Thank you, Aoba-san."
"Huh?"
He only smiled brighter, and turned towards me with lidded eyes. He was utterly exhausted, but how could he not be? Sluggishly I pulled him down under the blankets with me, and snuggled against his chest, raising and falling rhythmically. He let out a small shrill gasp, and quickly settled down. His heart was beating furiously in his chest, and his cheeks were surely flustered. Peering up to stare at his face, he was alarmed and seemed extremely sensitive. He sucked in his breath and exhaled a shaky hot breath.
"Clear?" His entire body trembled faintly in my arms, and he finally slunk down fully. He closed his eyes tightly, and the House wailed bluntly and bellowed a tune lacking timbre. The room rattled unlike before, and I noticed the strain in Clear's expression. He opened his eyes, and moved his hand to my face as if to comfort me. I couldn't image what it would have been like, growing up in this House. I would have gone insane. I noticed small features that had been corrupted on his face, and it saddened me greatly. The sclera of his right eye had dimmed harshly, and his pupil had almost faded completely to a silky dull glaze. Under his eyes had sunk slightly, and I could feel my throat begin to burn. Tucking my head into my chest to choke down my sobs, I held him tighter than before. The House shuttered menacingly, and sent the sounds of decomposed wood splitting through the room. The ceiling had split, fragments dappling the bed sheets. I heard footsteps outside of the hallway, and they stopped directly at the door. The shadow dancing under the dimly lit hallway's glare. Instead of opening the door, it clawed, almost like an animal. As soon as I thought it had passed, I heard cruel laughter, and rambling outside of the door. I recognized the voice immediately. Koujaku? Clear sat up, directly startled. I followed suit, and sent him a worried glance. Immediately after Koujaku had stopped speaking, the sound of a wretched airy scream reached my ears, and I heard Noiz snickering. I managed to make out some of their words,

"Ta-taha..-- Ha.. Can you.. be quiet?"
"Please... be quiet.."
"SHUT UP!"

The loud sound of something crashing sends my body paralyzed. Clear looked onward, fear staining his gaze.
"They've been.. lulled by the House." I tried to drown out the noises outside of the door, and turned my shuttering gaze to Clear.

"What.. do you mean?"

He tightens his lips, "The House is speaking with them, they have fallen with acceptance of the House." His breath dulls, "If they don't push it away.. they'll..." He breathes in painfully,

"The House will consume them into madness."

As soon as he finished speaking the door flew open, Clear gasped in dread and got to his feet hastily. A woman from before, flung herself at Clear and snapped vigorously at his shoulder.
"Give them back! I said give them.. to me!" It was the woman from the dining hall, who lost her two children to the House. She had been an easy target, considering her feelings were so open for the House to invade. Clear groaned, and pressed her against the wall by her neck.
"Clear!"
He didn't turn to me, he was intent on doing this. I raised my voice to it's highest ability, and I yelled harshly.
"Clear, that's enough!" He stopped his hands, and she fell to the floor. Squirming, she clung to Clear's leg and sobbed lazily.
"Give me.. give back.." Clear looked away with a pained expression, and looked extremely offended. As I watched him regretfully, footsteps began to approach the door. Before I knew it, Koujaku stood in front of my vision, his katana revealed and dripping with gruesome chemicals. He held no sympathy, and cut down the woman who laid helpless on the floor. Looking up to me, he showed no emotional recognition.
"Be quiet... Aoba.." he paused, and suddenly rushed towards me with a burning flame flickering in his eyes. Clear stepped in the way, and stopped the blade with a curtain rod that sat propped against the dresser.
"Koujaku!" No luck. He continued to counter Clear's attempts to defend himself, with harsh swings of his blade. Clear wasn't going to last much longer. Suddenly, the House rippled with a monotone cry, sounding like a crippled foghorn attempting to warn the inhabitants. Clear wheezed, and dropped the curtain rod, falling to his knees. As soon as I thought it was all over, I noticed a change sink in. Koujaku shuttered, horrified , as he towered over Clear and he sent a shivering look back to his blade. It clattered to the ground, and he stood mortified.
"Ao-ba.. I'm sor--ry.." He could barely manage to speak, and grabbed his head with a blood curdling scream. Running from the room I reached out for him,
"Koujaku, wait!" But he had already gone, leaving bloodied footprints as his only route.
Clear panted heavily, kneeling down weakly over the gruesome scene before him. What connections did Toue have with this house? I felt the thought prick me as I look down on Clear apologetically.

The House sounded once more,
sending a war cry to revolt against it's visitors.